Batting

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Covenant baseball team dropped the opener of a three-game USA South series at Huntingdon 9-3 on Friday evening at Posey Field.

Covenant (9-18, 7-9 USA South) has lost six straight.

Huntingdon (14-15, 6-7 USA South) methodically built an 8-0 lead and, despite a comeback threat from the Scots in the eighth, would hold on for the victory in the series opener.

Covenant had just three hits off Huntingdon starting pitcher Carden Mellown through seven innings. The Scots finally got to Mellown in the eighth and scored three times on four hits. Donny Lewis led off with a pinch-hit walk before being doubled home by Trenton Nobles. Two batters later, Joel Johnson delivered a two-run single to slice the deficit to 8-3.

That was all the Scots would get off Mellown (5-2), who went eight innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out 10. Ethan Hess tossed a scoreless ninth inning for the host Hawks.

Huntingdon scored a run in the first, two in the third, and another in the fourth to build a 4-0 lead. In the sixth, the Hawks broke the game open with four runs, two of which were unearned, to grab an 8-0 lead.

Devin Cerrato, Nobles, and CJ Edmond all had two hits apiece for Covenant as the Scots totaled eight on the night. Taylor Bloye (3-4) made the start and went 5.2 innings allowing five earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.

Jud Owens went 3-for-3 with two runs to pace the Hawks.

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The final two games of the series will take place on Saturday in Montgomery. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. EDT.